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Mr Baker told The Mail on Sunday yesterday: ‘We have made good strides over the years in tackling drink- driving, but we can’t afford to send out a message that implies drinking and driving is in any way acceptable.

‘Legislation introduced in 2003 was meant to ban pubs on the motorway network, but it doesn’t affect private land.

‘This anomaly was highlighted by the heavily criticised decision of JD Wetherspoon to open a pub on the M40. I am keen to close this loophole, but it is being blocked by Conservatives at the centre of Government.’

A Lib Dem source said: ‘It has been made clear to us that Cameron will not allow this.

Liberal Democrat Home Office Minister Norman Baker wants to close a loophole in the law which allows pubs to open on major routes